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Food Standards Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food were obtained, but it appears that no standard exists for either
the definition or composition of hamburgers for the purposes of the
Food and Drugs Act 1955.
The facts were reported to the Health Committee, and warning
letters were sent to the manufacturers concerned.
Pork luncheon meat.
A formal sample of pork luncheon meat was submitted to the
Public Analyst for examination. The sample was found to contain 70%
meat including fat, and in his opinion this meat content was not sufficient
to justify the use of the description 'pork luncheon meat' for this article.
The Danish manufacturers of the meat were informed of the result of
the examination. During the course of correspondence with the Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, it was stated that the question of
the possible need for statutory standards for canned meat had been
referred to the Food Standards Committee, which would make recommendations
in due course.
Butter beans.
A quantity of butter beans, which had been delivered to the Central
Kitchen, Queens Road, were found to contain foreign matter, which
proved to be rat droppings. Legal proceedings were instituted against
the suppliers of the beans under the provisions of the Food and Drugs
Act 1955 for selling butter beans which were not of the quality
demanded by the purchaser. The case was adjourned sine die at the
first Hearing, and was dismissed after the adjourned Hearing.
Bread roll with cheese.
A bread roll with cheese, purchased by a workman on a building
site, from a shop within the Borough, was submitted to the Public
Analyst for examination to identify the foreign matter present. The
substance proved to consist of a mass of carbonaceous particles from
burned or partly burned organic matter, mixed with numerous vegetable
fibres. Investigation disclosed a defect in the bakehouse machinery
which was immediately rectified, and it was deemed unnecessary to take
further proceedings.
Creamed rice milk pudding.
As the result of a complaint, a can of creamed rice milk pudding
was examined and found to be discoloured and of unpleasant taste. A
check can was purchased from the same stock, and both specimens
were sent to the Public Analyst for examination. He confirmed that
the contents of both the cans were discoloured, and that a taste foreign
to this article was present. Analysis showed the specimens to contain
about 2% of sodium citrate in addition to the ingredients declared on the
label. It appeared that the amount of sodium citrate was grossly excessive,
and that it adversely affected the quality of the food. The manufacturer
was summoned under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act
1955 for selling a creamed rice milk pudding which was not of the
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